used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
ambassadorsnounUS /æmˈbæsədərz/
plural of “ambassador” — a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
ardournoun
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
banishedverbUS /ˈbænɪʃt/
past form of “banish” — expel from a community or group
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
Clutha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
discoveringverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
divisible by two
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
fifenounUS /faɪf/
a small high-pitched flute similar to a piccolo; has a shrill tone and is used chiefly to accompany drums in a marching band
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
set up or found
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
glensnounUS /ɡlenz/
plural of “glen” — a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
death of a person
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
ill-judgedadjective
not given careful consideration
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
insufferablyadverb
to an insufferable degree
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
learntverbUS /lɜːrnt/
inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
hear with intention
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
Miranda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
moorsnounUS /mʊrz/
plural of “moor” — one of the Muslim people of north Africa; of mixed Arab and Berber descent; converted to Islam in the 8th century; conqueror of Spain in the 8th century
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
Murdoch'snounUS /ˈmɜːrdɑːks/
possessive form of “murdoch” — United States publisher (born in Australia in 1931)
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
absolutely essential
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
something you have to do
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
precinctsnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
Princess'snounUS /ˈprɪnsesɪz/
possessive form of “princess” — a female member of a royal family other than the queen (especially the daughter of a sovereign)
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
regulationsnounUS /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “regulation” — an authoritative rule
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
representingverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
ripplingnounUS /ˈrɪpəlɪŋ/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
except for; apart from
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
sighingverbUS /ˈsaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
uninterruptedlyadverb
without interruption
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The consequence of these ill-judged regulations was that the Court of Clutha became almost as silent as the grave.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
in or at the place that
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
belonging to which person
From this reading Among the ambassadors referred to there was one representing a Prince, whose ardour could not be checked by the Princess's cruel misfortune.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The sweet singing, or startled calls of the various birds, the rippling and murmuring of the rushing waters, the ceaseless humming of the insects, the sighing of the wind among the leaves and branches of the trees--each and all she heard and learnt to love.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that foreign courtiers found King Murdoch's Court insufferably dull, especially as the lovely Princess, herself a prey to melancholy, spent the greater part of her time amid the wild moors and glens surrounding her father's castle, where at least she could uninterruptedly listen to the sounds of Nature.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading Even musical instruments--with the exception of the fife and the drum, necessary for military and state occasions--were completely banished from the precincts of the palace, to save the youthful Miranda from discovering what it was to be without a voice for singing or speaking.
